Dietary diversity and related factors among lactating women visiting public health facilities in Aksum town, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Dietary diversity is a proxy indicator of maternal nutrient adequacy. However, little is documented on dietary diversity among lactating mothers. Therefore, this study assessed diet diversity and associated factors among lactating mothers visiting public health facilities in Aksum town, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on 346 randomly selected lactating women visiting public health facilities of Aksum town in June 2015. Dietary diversity was assessed using 24 h dietary recall method. A mean dietary diversity score (DDS) was computed of nine food groups. Food insecurity access was measured using 9 items Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: More than a quarter (27.2 %) of the lactating mothers was from food insecure households. The mean DDS was 3.4 and a total of 56.4 % lactating mothers had low dietary diversity (less than mean DDS). Average monthly income, home gardening and source of drinking water were associated with low dietary diversity. Lactating mothers who had monthly income of less than 501 ETB [AOR = 2.3, 95 % CI (1.2, 4.6)] and 501 to 1500 ETB [AOR = 3.0, 95 % CI (1.4, 6.3)] were more likely to have low dietary diversity than those who had monthly income above 1500 ETB. And those who did not practice home gardening were more likely to have low dietary diversity than their counterparts [AOR = 2.1, 95 % CI (1.01, 4.2)]. Regarding source of drinking water, mothers who reported protected well as a main source were more likely to have low dietary diversity compared to those who reported tap water as main source [AOR = 4.5, 95 % CI (1.1,18.2)]. Conclusions: Dietary diversity among lactating mothers was low. Factors like monthly income less than 501 ETB and 501 to 1500 ETB, not having home gardening, and source of drinking water from protected well were significantly associated with low dietary diversity. Attention should be paid to dietary diversity of lactating mothers to improve their nutritional status, and that of their children and their family.

<p>Dietary diversity and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public health facilities in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia</p>

“…27 Furthermore, many studies in developing countries have documented that their dietary sources are mainly cereal based. 28 Pregnant women who were using protected water as a main source were 12.5 times more likely to have a diversified diet than those who were using unprotected water as the main source. This result is supported by different studies.…”

“…This study is supported by studies conducted in Ethiopia which revealed that home gardening was strongly associated with diet diversity and with frequency of vegetable consumption. 22,29 This might be due to the reason that households with gardens benefited because they are able to diversify their daily food. It has been shown elsewhere that parents with home gardens grow vegetables to obtain additional diet options that enhance the diversity of the household's food sources.…”

“…21 As an international food policy research institute study demonstrated in different regions of Ethiopia more than 50% of children consumed less than two out of seven food groups. 22 However, little information is documented about the dietary diversity of pregnant women in Ethiopia, specifically our study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess dietary diversity and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public health facilities in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia.…”

Dietary diversity and associated factors among lactating mothers in Debre Tabor General Hospital, Northcentral Ethiopia

“…In this study, factors like monthly income, not having home gardening, and a source of drinking water from the protected well was the determinate to have low dietary diversity. 15 The mean±standard deviation (SD) of DDS of lactating mothers was 4.9±1.9 respectively and the magnitude of high DDS and underweight was 32.8% and 40.6%resepectively. This show that underweight was associated with lactating women's dietary diversity score and poor feeding practice.…”

Ethiopian Orthodox Fasting and Lactating Mothers: Longitudinal Study on Dietary Pattern and Nutritional Status in Rural Tigray, Ethiopia

“…During pregnancy and lactation, women are more vulnerable to undernutrition than others at reproductive age, due to increased energy and nutrient requirements [5,6,7]. Globally in 2011, the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women was 38.2% vs. 29% in non-pregnant women [8].…”